초록 ▼

A soft hybrid-electric vehicle power supply circuit ( 14) is provided. The circuit includes a load sensor (19), which generates a load signal. A high-voltage bus (26) supplies a high voltage for a high-voltage load (30) and a low-voltage bus (28) is electrically coupled to and supplying a low-voltag

A soft hybrid-electric vehicle power supply circuit ( 14) is provided. The circuit includes a load sensor (19), which generates a load signal. A high-voltage bus (26) supplies a high voltage for a high-voltage load (30) and a low-voltage bus (28) is electrically coupled to and supplying a low-voltage to a low-voltage load (32). A converter circuit (24) is electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus (26), the low-voltage bus (28), and a high-voltage load (30). The converter circuit (24) maintains a predetermined minimum voltage level on the high-voltage load (30) by switching between the high-voltage bus (26) and the low-voltage bus (28) in response to the load signal. A method of maintaining the predetermined minimum voltage level is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A soft hybrid-electric vehicle power supply circuit for a soft hybrid-electric vehicle comprising: a load sensor generating a load signal; a high-voltage bus supplying a high voltage for a high-voltage load; a low-voltage bus electrically coupled to and supplying a low-

The invention claimed is: 1. A soft hybrid-electric vehicle power supply circuit for a soft hybrid-electric vehicle comprising: a load sensor generating a load signal; a high-voltage bus supplying a high voltage for a high-voltage load; a low-voltage bus electrically coupled to and supplying a low-voltage to a low-voltage load; and a converter circuit electrically coupled to said high-voltage bus, said low-voltage bus, and said high voltage load, said converter circuit maintaining a predetermined minimum voltage level on said high-voltage load by switching between said high-voltage bus and said low-voltage bus in response to said load signal to supply power to said high-voltage load from only one of said high-voltage bus and said low-voltage bus. 2. A circuit as in claim 1 further comprising an integrated starter generator supplying power to said high-voltage bus or an engine. 3. A circuit as in claim 2 further comprising: an integrated starter generator control circuit electrically coupled to said integrated starter generator and said high-voltage bus, said integrated starter generator control circuit signaling said integrated starter generator in response to said load signal. 4. A circuit as in claim 3 wherein said integrated starter generator control circuit comprises: an inverter processing electrical power between said high-voltage bus and said integrated starter generator; and an integrated starter generator controller electrically coupled to said inverter and determining when to process said electrical power. 5. A circuit as in claim 1 wherein said converter circuit comprises: a bi-directional switch; and a bi-directional converter electrically coupled to said bi-directional switch and controlling said bi-directional switch, said bi-directional converter controlling direction of voltage conversion from either said high-voltage bus to said low-voltage bus or from said low-voltage bus to said high-voltage bus to maintain said predetermined minimum voltage level on said high-voltage load. 6. A circuit as in claim 1 further comprising a high-voltage energy storage device electrically coupled to and supplying power to said high-voltage bus. 7. A circuit as in claim 1 further comprising a low-voltage energy storage device electrically coupled to and supplying power to said low-voltage bus. 8. A circuit as in claim 1 wherein said converter circuit maintains said predetermined minimum voltage level during soft hybrid-electric vehicle engine high-loading periods. 9. A circuit as in claim 1 wherein said predetermined minimum voltage level is approximately 30 volts. 10. A soft hybrid-electric vehicle power supply system for a soft hybrid-electric vehicle comprising: a engine propelling the soft hybrid electric vehicle; an engine controller determining the status of said engine and generating a load signal; and a soft hybrid-electric vehicle power supply circuit comprising; a high-voltage bus supplying a high voltage for a high-voltage load; a low-voltage bus electrically coupled to and supplying a low-voltage to a low-voltage load; and a converter circuit electrically coupled to said high-voltage bus, said low-voltage bus, and said high voltage load, said converter circuit maintaining a predetermined minimum voltage level on said high-voltage load by switching between said high-voltage bus and said low-voltage bus in response to said load signal; said converter circuit generating a converter circuit status signal upon switching voltage supply for said high-voltage load; said engine controller signaling said engine to draw power from said high-voltage bus in response to said converter circuit status signal. 11. A system as in claim 10 further comprising an integrated starter generator supplying power to said high-voltage bus or said engine. 12. A system as in claim 11 further comprising an integrated starter generator control circuit electrically coupled to said integrated starter generator and said high-voltage bus, said integrated starter generator control circuit adjusting performance of said integrated starter generator. 13. A system as in claim 12 wherein said integrated starter generator control circuit comprises: an inverter processing electrical power between said high-voltage bus and said integrated starter generator; and an integrated starter generator controller electrically coupled to said inverter and determining when to process said electrical power. 14. A system as in claim 10 wherein said converter circuit comprises: a bi-directional switch; and a bi-directional converter electrically coupled to said bi-directional switch and controlling said bi-directional switch, said bi-directional converter controlling direction of voltage conversion from either said high-voltage bus to said low-voltage bus or from said low-voltage bus to said high-voltage bus to maintain said predetermined minimum voltage level on said high-voltage load. 15. A system as in claim 10 further comprising a high-voltage energy storage device electrically coupled to and supplying power to said high-voltage bus. 16. A system as in claim 10 further comprising a low-voltage energy storage device electrically coupled to and supplying power to said low-voltage bus. 17. A system as in claim 10 wherein said converter circuit maintains said predetermined minimum voltage level during soft hybrid-electric vehicle engine high-loading periods. 18. A system as in claim 10 wherein said predetermined minimum voltage level is approximately 30 volts. 19. A method of maintaining a predetermined minimum voltage level on a high-voltage load for a soft hybrid-electric vehicle comprising: generating a load signal; performing a high-voltage mode when said load signal is greater than a predetermined load and generating a first direction signal and performing a low-voltage mode when said load signal is less than or equal to a predetermined load and generating a second direction signal; switching a bi-directional switch to an open state in response to said first direction signal and to a closed state in response to said second direction signal; and performing an up-conversion in response to said first direction signal and a down-conversion in response to said second direction signal to maintain a predetermined minimum voltage level on the high-voltage load. 20. A method as in claim 19 wherein performing an up-conversion and a down-conversion comprises: determining time to perform a voltage conversion; determining a power rating for said voltage conversion; and determining a duration of time to perform said voltage conversion. 21. A method as in claim 20 wherein switching said bi-directional switch and performing said voltage conversion comprises: decoupling a high-voltage load from said high-voltage bus and coupling said high-voltage load to a low-voltage bus during soft hybrid-electric vehicle engine high-loading periods; and coupling said high-voltage load to said high-voltage bus and decoupling said high-voltage load from said low-voltage bus during normal-loading periods. 22. A method as in claim 19 further comprising initiating a high-loading mode on a converting circuit before executing said high-loading made on an integrated starter generator.